But exceedingly satisfied.
I have worked for months building the content for my moodle site. I have gone into moodle to verify that my plans were possible (the survey function caught me off guard in the end) and set the daunting task of uploading the content into the LMS this past week.
It was strange not working on the content at the same time as the development of activities. For me, they typically go hand in hand. This strategy allowed for me to work in a more organic flow, until that came crashing down while I learned to make it look the way I wanted in moodle. After all of the struggles and numerous triumphs, I am happily going to be the night before the assignment is due knowing that I have done everything I can to be successful. When I flip through the site, while proud, I am also surprised at the disporportion between what I feel I have learned about online learning (you are writing as you’re facilitating/instructing) and the product. It seems that in creating these pages I learned so much from basic HTML to how to record and youtube my slide presentation from Keynote. Incredible.
Tomorrow: synthesize four months of notes on my experience, but for tonight, BED.
Kristopher
An Officer’s Account
What a site! Levine’s fifty tools are amazing (those that are still in play without broken links, etc.). I have used this site in the past (ETEC 511), but any excuse to explore further some of the tools is exciting. There are a number of gems that have come forward from this site (most notably prezi.com and pixton.com).
I chose to explore the Pixton webware for the versatility that it offered. It is really interesting how you can (with patience!) create any shape of character. Pixton was a little frustrating in that there is a complicated system where one can earn credits (I finally broken down and did a trial netflix in order to get a whopping 300 credits) by visiting, posting on Facebook, or trying different things. In conversation with my supervisor at work, we discussed the nature of our work being mostly second-language learners. We have often discussed in the past supplementing our work with visual descriptions, and when I came across Pixton, that seemed like something that is possible. I have written a number of scenarios that are quite simple to begin discussions, but it was a very different experience to draw it out. The narrative structure changed the typically-descriptive dynamic of the scenarios. It was challenging in every aspect; what colour skin do the characters get? how do I portray meaning without words (in order to acheive the goal of a supplemented scenario)? how do I write an effective scenario without putting too much in and confusing the scene, yet still make it realistic and not leave out the details?
The intention of this scenario is to be used in a Human Rights in Corrections course. This is to begin the discussion on the appropriate use of force and the violations of power. How do you take such a serious topic and portray it fairly in a comic? I imagine it is the facilitation that makes this a usable document.
While these tools are accessible in that no specific software is required (available to all), the nature of the computer skills (or if not skills, comfortability) is not all that possible for our audience (South American and African). This tool would most likely be used by designers to build the coursewares and not by the participants themselves. On the other hand, as adults, the tools of course would be as accessible as possible to the participants.
In terms of motivation, I am excited to learn the balance between achieving the goals of accessibility for second-language learners by enhancing the scenarios with visual cues.
An interesting task that has led to lots of interesting questions, and possibly an exciting solution.
Kristopher
Wow this is challenging. Collaboration through a wiki seems like it doesn’t work all that well in a short timeframe. I think that the essence of a wiki is:
- There can be ongoing developments that are reflected in the wiki.
- It is long-term and open-ended.
- All users have access and abilities to update/modify.
- Progression is tracked and recorded.
By collaborating in a short time frame on a project, it is challenging to ensure that there is an on-going opportunity. It also seems that it is much more challenging to ensure that what is posted is what the group wants reflected, or what the last person wanted reflected.
I think that wikis could be used to show the development of a product, but upon using the wiki in the past week to create a product, it seems like this is not the most effective tool. There are other tools in Web 2.0 that seem to be a progression from wikis; google docs is a great tool that allows for real-time collaboration, as well as a chat on the side. This allows for engaging discussion before decisions are made and posted (although, what is the purpose of decisions? A posting can always be changed!).
Kristopher
Alright, I have never thought of myself as an environmentalist… but this DVD discussion is intriguing me. Is it a good idea? I don’t think that it’s a bad idea… what I do think is that there are BETTER ideas out there. Having posted my first youtube (thank you, thank you) videos last semester, I found out just how easy it actually is to be published in an accessible format. I was blown away at the ease of it. So why not share in that medium?
The basic expectation seems to be that Canadians at least have access to a computer (forgive my ignorance, is this the reality?). This could be in the form of classrooms, public libraries, etc. So why not just post things in a place that anyone can access it? I think I like that idea.
The United Nations (UN) and Al Jezeera have recently begun exclusively posting their materials on youtube as well for greater circulation. A great plan– except, has anyone ever tried to get material from youtube? NEAR IMPOSSIBLE. It’s costly to get the rights… it’s challenging to get responses… and the quality is never perfect. There are sites like keepvid, but if you want to stay legit there are limited options. Afterall, youtube is accessible to anyone right? WRONG. Let’s just say that for the sake of argument it is accessible to North Americans. Africa does not have access to much of the content there… China is also limited.
Okay, so the sumation of my little DVD/youtube rant: I think that youtube is a very good alternative for North Americans, but it is not without its faults internationally.
Cheers,
Kristopher
I remember the good old days of burning a DVD for my parents or throwing together some photos to share with family. My process of burning a DVD was quite satisfactory. I put it in and presto-my mac worked its magic.
I have worked on both PCs and Mac for a number of years and find the Mac to be much more intuitve and able when it comes to publishing…well, anything. Webpages, DVDs, home videos, pictures (our wedding photo album is beautiful!). Everything is intuitive and just works well together (integration of the photo software and music software with the movie software is seamless. If I have any complaints for Apple it is that the process is so simplistic that anyone can do– I don’t fell so awesome anymore:)
Burning the DVD took some time. I chose to burn a small clip (low quality m4v for the iphone because I knew that it wouldn’t take long. The feeling that I get when I burn DVDs (as when I do at work) is that it just isn’t going anywhere. It is landfill almost immediately. Yes, they’re fairly sturdy… but not nearly as sturdy as a youtube video. The disk will get used for this one purpose and then find itself on the bottom of a pile with all of the others that were really one-time use discs. It’s a little bit sad.
There you have it! Burning a DVD.
Kristopher
Welcome to my blog!
I look forward to sharing my reflections and preflections with you all.
Kristopher
